this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2025
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[–] myster0n@feddit.nl 151 points 1 week ago (2 children)

But when the old phone gets its final resting place in the cupboard, I want it to be in the original box.

[–] vateso5074@lemmy.world 50 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is what I do, along with a few other devices I've owned. Sometimes I've been able to give perfectly decent devices away to friends/coworkers/family who had a sudden problem with theirs and have a hard time affording a new one.

But unlike the old video game consoles that I do the same thing with, I am always a bit worried about long-term storage of devices that use lithium ion batteries. I know failure rates are rare but I've heard the horror stories and I know the risk increases each time I take another device and put them back in a box up on the shelf.

Hopefully some day, people will look back and laugh at us using lithium ion batteries like we laugh at lead paint, nitrate film, and asbestos.

[–] Opisek@piefed.blahaj.zone 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Give away, repurpose, or resell. This is the right way. I myself only purchase used phones. No need for perfectly usable devices to become electronical waste.

[–] vateso5074@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Exactly.

When it comes to phones at least, I also try to keep mine for as long as possible because there's honestly no point in upgrading just for the heck of it. Companies don't release meaningful "must have" features anymore like they did back when people felt it was normal to upgrade every couple of years. No need to contribute to e-waste when it can be avoided.

I've been using my current phone for 4 years now, and the phone I had before that I used for 6. I upgraded only because I received the newer one for free from work, but I gave my previous phone away to a friend who needed one because I wasn't going to throw away a perfectly good phone that I was happily using just fine a few months prior. Sure, the battery life was no longer quite as good, but I didn't really care (nor did my friend) because we at least remember the days where you were lucky if your phone made it more than 8 hours on a single charge. You just learn to deal with it and bring a spare charger if you're planning to be out for a while.

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[–] Una@piefed.europe.pub 11 points 1 week ago

Essentially giving it proper funeral it deserves

[–] sploosh@lemmy.world 103 points 1 week ago (1 children)

When I sell my 5 year old flagship phone I'll get $30 more easily if I have the box and the stuff that came in it. People see that and subconsciously think "this person has their shit together. buying their used phone isn't a risk."

Same goes for other stuff, too. I recently sold a synthesizer for $150 over the market rate because I had the box, manual (even though it was out of date due to firmware updates) and the stickers that came with it.

I like semi up-to-the-minute tech, so keeping things in good shape and giving someone the unboxing experience keeps my costs down at the cost of a little space in my closet.

[–] LambChop@lemmy.zip 14 points 1 week ago

+1 to this- I was about to comment the same thing before I saw your comment. Phones with packaging definitely sell better.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 80 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What no. What? No.

ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

[–] notsure@fedia.io 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] miguel@fedia.io 57 points 1 week ago

Sold my old electronics at easily a 20% premium because I had all the box and packins. My xbox with the box, materials, and everything (all nicely cleaned) sold for more than I paid for it - inflation being what it is, that was quite nice.

So, this is poor advice.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 55 points 1 week ago

Hey it actually helps if you ever want to resell it. Prices around the same which listing are you going to pick? The one of some reseller who has the same generic photo or the one with the complete box and even the original cable still sealed in it?

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 32 points 1 week ago (14 children)

Not entirely true.

Several times aIready I have been glad having kept them when I had to return devices because of warranty stuff.

So it makes sense to keep the boxes for half a year or so.

Real problem is, in reality I still have smartphone boxes dating from 2005 lying around which I am just too damn lazy to sort out... 😒

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

you don't need the original box for this, I usually throw it away after a month (the delay for full refund in some shop)

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 1 week ago

Much easier to send back and no discussions about completeness.
Full refund period over here is 2 weeks, but very customer friendly warranty regulations after that.

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[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 31 points 1 week ago (1 children)

But that's where I keep the little pokey thing that I use to open the SIM card tray!

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[–] Dagamant@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I put my phone back in its box when I upgrade. It’s like a little phone coffin…

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Every time I throw out a box i have to end up returning the item for some reason and then I’m screwed

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The box usually has the IMEI and serial number and stuff on it. Can be very useful when it gets stolen or something.

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Take a picture and keep it in a place you know, like an organized digital document collection.

[–] zerofk@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Take a picture and store it in the phone.

Wait…

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[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Since I am Gen X I can safely ignore this and sit comfortably on my throne of old phone boxes.

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[–] mavu@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. I will have a use for the box one day.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago (3 children)
  • mouse coffin
  • store cool dried flowers
  • drugs
  • smaller boxes

I could go on

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[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (5 children)

It's always sensible to keep the boxes for the stuff you're currently using. If you sell something, it'll fetch a better price with the original box. If you give it away, the recipient will also appreciate it more. Just make sure to throw out the boxes from stuff you haven't had around in ten years. Don't ask me how I know.

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[–] luxliminal@piefed.social 17 points 1 week ago

You can take my phone boxes, but you'll never take my game console boxes

[–] Amir@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It has all the important data like IMEI on the box, it stores the extra USB-C to USB-A adapter and USB-C cable and SIM tool, and it helps with carrying and eventually reselling the phone

[–] Kushan@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

I always get a good price when I resell my gadgets because I keep the original boxes for them.

[–] iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 week ago

I sell my old electronics and I get good used prices compared to others. I think it is partially because I have the original box to sell it in.

[–] notsure@fedia.io 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

...i threw the box out after 12 years, and the next day I had to wrap a new that fit perfectly in that box...

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[–] StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I mean like 4 times now though I've kept it and resold it in the original box

[–] ivanovsky@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

How'd you sell the same phone 4 times? Did you tie a string to it and pulled it back after the transaction was done??

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[–] Gurei@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My insurance wanted to receive my broken phone back in its orthogonal box if possible.

It was shipped back in the box for my last phone before it.

[–] kureta@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

orthogonal box

maybe needed the phone to be linearly independent

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[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Joke's on you, mine is filled with charging cables I've never unwrapped.

[–] Chev@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

Reselling old but functional deveices in the original box

Not a fan of of just throwing things away

[–] 000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Those boxes are VERY useful when you're buying a new phone by trading in the old one. Keep them.

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[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

Yeah, I just needed mine for a warranty return on my Pixel. It also had my sim ejector in it. Plus, as someone who worked retail for a few years, I can tell you that if you need to do a return on an item, having it in the box with all the packaging looking nice and neat gets a lot of rules bent about restocking fees, receipts, warranties, etc...

[–] RedFrank24@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (5 children)

You say that, but then I throw away the box to my phone and suddenly my phone bricks itself and I need to find a box to send it back to the shop in.

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[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)
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[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago

Then why are so much resources wasted on such high quality boxes?

I won't even see the boxes in the store as they're in storage. They take the box out front in the store and open it for you or if you ordered online, it arrives and you open it

Stop the waste

[–] BilSabab@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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[–] Marn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Hard disagree if you ever plan to sell your old phone. I always buy a used phones and I only buy it if they have the original box because it's a good way to show it's not stolen. Same goes for tools

[–] Gnugit@aussie.zone 8 points 1 week ago

People are selling them on my local market place. Not sure if any of them sell but they have all sorts of boxes for sale.

[–] _spiffy@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago (3 children)

My work pays for my phone I just need to return it after. I keep the box for that. It is very convenient!

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[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Some of those boxes are very nice. I’ll paint them, decorate them, and use them for storage. Add some custom-cut foam inserts and they make excellent storage solutions for minis.

[–] zaph@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago

Actually bad advice

[–] P1k1e@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

It's for me.....id upvote but..... ya know

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago
[–] kokesh@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

I definitely need it. I save it and after 3 years when I'm selling my phone for about 1/3 of the original price to someone on the internet, I can present it in pristine condition, with original packaging.

[–] spacesatan@leminal.space 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Man I still have the box my fucking zune came in. It's where all my old microsd/sd cards and assorted small semi-valuables live.

A small nice box can be a useful thing to have.

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